Cisco VAR Touts Its Talent

Here’s an interesting debate: Assume your company employs one of the sharpest Cisco gurus in the region. Would you keep this pro’s credentials a secret — so that rivals don’t try to steal him — or would you promote the guru’s expertise in a bid to win more business?

In the case of Applied Trust, the Colorado solutions provider has decided to tell the world that one of its engineers has earned the highest Cisco certification possible. In The VAR Guy’s mind, that’s a smart move. Talented employees weigh their loyalty based on a range of factors such as compensation, the people around them and the opportunity to work on challenging projects. Keeping your employee’s skills and achievements a secret won’t help to maintain their loyalty.

Apparently, Applied Trust agrees. That’s why the company is evangelizing the skills of its Cisco guru, Andy Merritt. The Cisco certification “demonstrates that Andy is at the top of his field, and puts him in an elite tier that is qualified to consult on the most complex network infrastructure situations,” asserts Trent. R. Hein, CEO of Applied Trust. “We are extremely proud to be able to offer his expertise to our clients, who appreciate our commitment to technical excellence.”

Hmmm. A solutions provider that actually does PR promoting its talent. Smart move.